Bacon package



1962 J. M. TINDALL 3,051,583

BACON PACKAGE Filed June 8, 1959 ATTORNEYS.

United rates Patent 3,051,583 BACQN PACKAGE John M. Tindall, 522 Greenleaf, Wilmette, Ill. Filed June 8, 1959, Ser. No. 818,609 9 Claims. (Cl. 99174) This invention relates to a package for bacon slices and similar food products.

From the standpoint of the consumer, the handling and storage of bacon slices, packaged in shingle fashion in a conventional wrapper, present a number of problems. For one thing, the shingled slices tend to adhere to each other, especially when they are cold, and may be extremely difiicult to separate without tearing or mutilating the strips. Also, the wrapper itself may be difficult to open without tearing the thin sheet material from which it is formed and, even if it is successfully opened without ripping, it is usually ineffective as a flavor and odor sealing refrigerator wrapper for the remaining unused slices. As a result, housewives must often repackage the unused slices in new wrapping material, discarding the original Wrapper as unsuitable for the purpose.

Eliorts have been made to overcome these problems but while some packages have been developed to reduce the diiiiculty usually encountered in separating individual bacon slices, no package has been developed for commercial use which is also capable of maintaining its integrity and flavor-sealing characteristics after initial opening.

Therefore, one of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a bacon package which overcomes both of the aforementioned problems. Another object is to provide a package in which a selected number of slices may be easily removed without destroying the container itself and without exposing the remaining unused slices. Another object is to provide a sturdy package well suited for displaying and storing bacon in markets, and particularly adapted for the handling and storing of bacon by consumers. A still further object is to provide a bacon package in which all of the slices are separated from each other by non-porous sheet material, thereby facilitating removal of the bacon strips and reducing the possibilities of flavor loss and spoilage during storage.

Other objects will appear from the specification and drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a sealed bacon package embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the package in opened condition for the removal of bacon slices;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the package taken along line 33 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged and broken vertical sectional view of the package, showing details of the core or spindle construction thereof.

The bacon package illustrated in the drawings essentially comprises a container having a bacon and webbing roll 11 disposed therein. The container is preferably rectangular in shape, having top, bottom and side walls 1214 respectively, and is formed from a suitable material which is both sturdy and flexible. In the illustration given, the container is formed from a folded sheet of stiff cardboard with the overlapping wall portions thereof cemented or otherwise secured together. However, it is to be understood that other sheet materials may be used and that, if desired, the container may be molded or pressed from polyethylene, polystyrene, or other suitable plastic materials.

Roll 11 comprises a spiral arrangement of bacon strips 7 3,5l,53 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 ice 15 with a single elongated strip or web 16 enterposed between each of the layers or coils of the bacon roll. The roll is formed by placing freshly cut slices of bacon in longitudinal, spaced series upon a single narrow web of grease-resistant material and then winding the web and bacon into the roll form shown most clearly in FIG- URES 3 and 4. It is to be noted that the successive slices in the series do not overlap but have their ends spaced apart, and that each slice is insulated or sepa rated from slices in adjacent layers by the Web barrier. Preferably, the web is at least slightly wider than the maximum width of the slices, as indicated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

The web may be formed from glassine paper or any other suitable sheet material which is flexible, tough and grease-resistant. Paper coated with wax or other impervious release agents may be used. It is also to be understood that the web may, if desired, be formed from flexible plastic materials such as polyethylene, regenerated cellulose, vinylidene chloride, or the like. Preferably, the under side of the web strip is coated with a silicone release film, formed by applying a liquid silicone such as a dimethyl silicone polymer dissolved or diluted by a suitable volatile solvent which then evaporates to leave a tough release film, so that there will be no tendency for strips of bacon to adhere to the under surface of the web as the roll is unwound.

Roll 11 is wound about a tube 17 which may be formed of board material upon a spiral winding machine and which is centrally disposed within the container, extending substantially the entire distance between the top and bottom walls thereof. Tube 17 is in turn rotatably carried upon a tubular spindle or core 18 which is mounted upon a rectangular bottom liner sheet 19. As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, sheet 19 is substantially the same dimensions as the containers interior bottom surface and, at its center, is provided with an annular series of upturned and integrally-formed segments 19a which are adhesively secured to the cores inner surface. Thus, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, spindle 18 is fixed within the container so that tube 17 and roll 11 are free to rotate thereabout. While sheet 19 may be adhesively secured to the bottom inside surface of the container, it has been found that such attachment is not necessary because the relative dimensions of the sheet and the carton interior effectively prevent lateral displacement of the roll.

The outer free end portion of web 16 extends through a side opening 20 in the container adjacent one of the corners thereof. The end portion of the web disposed externally of the container is in turn concealed by a hinged side flap 21 which is normally held in closed position by its free end which projects into a slit 22 in the containers side wall. As shown most clearly in FIG- URE 1, the free corners of the flap 21 may be clipped so that the tapered end of that flap may be easily inserted into and withdrawn from slit 22.

I The top wall of the container is provided with at least one pair of openings 23 through which thelean edges of the rolled bacon'strips within the container are visible. While openings 23 are shown as arcuate, it is to be understood that various shapes of openings may be used depending upon the preference of the particular manufacturer or packager. Sheets of cellophane 24 or other transparent material are adhesively secured to the under side of the containers top wall so that the slices which are exposed for viewing through openings 23 are nevertheless sealed within the container.

The bacon package is to be marketed in the sealed condition illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3. The packing of such packages in freezers and self-service counters is facilitated by reason of the rectangular configuration ditionfiwithin "the container.

of the containers and, because .of their .sturdyrconstruc.

tion, such containers "maybe handled and inspected by V shoppers without losing their fresh appearance. For the .same reasons, such a package is well; adapted ,to swithstand repeated handling in the home and may be readily stored within a'home refrigerator because of its rectangular shape and compact construction.

, When bacon is to be withdrawn fromfthenontain'er,

'the'user simply bends flap 21 into the open positionzillustratedin FIGURE 2 and pullsrthe exposed end "of web 16 outwardly. When; the desired number of bacon slices 7 have been drawn from'the package upon the extracted .web, the housewife thensimply'cuts or tears the web', leaving a :short portion of .it exposed ,beyond opening; 20, V

and then replacesiflap 21 intthet'closed position of 'FIG{ URE 1; Thus, only the desired number of strips required fora particular serving are exposed: at: any given :time,"the unusedstripsiofbacon remaining in rolled con- Ii fiS believed apparent, therefore; that oxidation and'flavorlossofithe packaged foodv product, as .well as'spoilage and transferenceu'of flavors toother foodsstored within a refrigeratoricabinet; are greatly reduced'by reason of'the present package construction. a a H 'Roll' 11 isofcourse setin rotation about" spindlelS as web 16' and the bacon slices carried thereby are unwound from that rolland are withdrawn from; the packsage. .Since thellower and upper Tlongitudinaliedges of the web tend to reduce the'frictional contact-between the bacon slices, sheet '19 and topwall 12 (FIGUREA); the bacon and 'webbing roll is easily rotated within thex'container when the free. end of the webbing is drawnroutwa-rdly away from slot 15. .Consequently,lindiyidual i slices of bacon are easily extracted from the'paclragefby outwardjorce appliedto the exposed end of the Web;

While inthe foregoing I have disclosed an embodiment of the present invention in considerable detail for'p'urposes of illustration, it is to be understood'by. those skilled inrtherart that'manyof'these details may be'varied'conr siderably .without departing from the spiritnand scope of the invention.

' I claim:

1. A bacon package comprising. a containerahaving rectangular top'and bottomwalls and h-aving an opening in. aside wall thereof, said top and bottomi walls having substantially smooth and flat-outer. surfaces, a spindle disposed within lsaid container and extending upwardly: from the bottom wall thereof, a roll'rotatably supported t 7 within saidcontainer upon said spindle and comprising a 7 single coil stripro'f flexible grease-resistant material having bacon'slices extending longitudinallyin spaced relation therealong, a .tube extending through the center of said roll and rotatably receiving said spindle, said strip having a free outer end extending through saidlside wall opening and a sidewall flap extending overlsaid openingand 'fsaid free outer end ofsa'id strip and being movable into anfl'open condition for exposing said free outer end and said opening, whereby, whensaid'fiap isppen, thefree outer end of-said strip maytbe'grasped and pulled out- :wardly to unwind said 'rollland to withdraw the bacon slices within the container, said slices being disposed upon :the outermost surface of said strip upon withdrawal of the? strip from said. container, said slices 'clinging'onlytothesurfac'e 'of .said stiipfacing away: as said strip is unwound. I 12.2.The structure of claim 1 in'which: said strip is wider than the bacon slices extending therealong.

' 3. A bacon package comprising a narrow elongated :grease-resistantweb, a plurality of 'bacon-slicesadhering from said roll a to and extending in longitudinal'relation' alongsaid web,

said web and bacon slices being spirally wound to proyide a 'roll wvhereirieall' of. thebacon slices of said roll are separated from ea'ch otherby said web interposed' therebetween, a containerenclosmg said roll and-providing spindle ineans rotatablysupporting the roll therein, said Hco n-tainer/ also providing a side opening through which the'outer free end of said web projects, said slices being disposed upon the outermost surface of'said web'upon withdrawal of the web, from said container, whereby, when said web is v.pulled outwardly through said opening,

7 said roll rotates'withinsaid containernand the. unwinding web with; bacon; slices supp'orted .thereon -is gradually peeled away from'the slaces remainingcn'the roll with out tearing such slices and without pulling the same off ofthe' curved surface-of said ro'll. V

4. The structure of claim 3 in which said container has substantially smooth outer surfaces; said spindle comprising a 1 tube centrally disposed within said container and, fixed at one end to' the inner surface of ga wall 5. Theastruct ure ,of claim 31 in which said web is iwiderthan the bacon slices extending therealong-at least one longitudinal; side-edge portion of said -web s'lidably engagingian inside surface of saidcontainer to prevent st'icking contact between said surface and the edges of said bacon "slices,.thereby facilitatingrotatidnof the said -roll:within the'container assaidweb is unwound.

" J .-.6. A baconpackage comprising a container, having rectangular-top and bottom walls and having an opening :in alsidewall 1 thereof, v'saidtopl-and bottom walls pro viding substantially smooth and'flat outer surfaces, a :spindle disposed: said container and extending be- =.tween thetop-andbottontr-walls thereof, and arollrota- 'itably supported within said containenupon said spindle and comprising' a single coiled. strip of :fiexible'rnaterial havingybacon slices adhering thereto and extending longitndinallytherealong, .said'strip having a-free outer end adapted to be drawn outwardly through said opening for unwinding said roll and withdrawing'said slicesfrom said container, said slices being disposed upon the outermost surfaceiof said strip .uponwitl drawal of said strip from said container, whereby, when said strip is pulled through said opening said' roll rotates with-in said container and "the unwindingstrip with bacon slices 'suppoiited thereon 40 :isgradually' peeled away from the slices remaining on wtherotatingroll.

,7; 'Thestructure ofclaim I o in iwhich said spindle-is 'fixed tofsaidbottom Wall within-said container, said roil :being rotatable about said 'fixed spindle as' said web-is ,unwound. i a 1 1 r :8.. The; structure of claim'd in which said toptwall is provided withiopenin'gstherein'for exposing the edges of said-rolled, bacon, said top being provided with ItransparenL sheet material extending across said-opening for maintaining the contents of said container in sealed condition; 7

9. A bacon package comprising a container having rectangular top and bottom walls and having an opening in aside wallthereof, said topand bottom wallsproviding substantiallysmooth and flat outer surfa'ces, a spindle disposed said container and extending between the jtop :and bottom walls thereof, and a roll' rotatably supported-within said-container upon said spindle and combacon slices adhering thereto and extending longitudinal- 1y, therealong'saidstrip having a free outerend adapted jjto-ibe -drawn outwardlythrough .said opening'fof unwinding. sa i-d roll ;and;wi thdrawing said slices from said "con- .tain er, said'slice's being; disposedlupon the outermost sur- 7 fac e ofsaid strip .upon'; withdrawal-of said strip-fromsaid co t iner; er y/ a SiI HaiS pul athr r s e r a dam r t wi h 1: d c n ain nand the, unwindingstrip' with bacon slices supported. thereonis gradually'fpeeled, away. from the slices remaining; on :the rotating, roll, said bacon [slices zbeing, narrower than said strip andbeing spaced longitudinally ;therealong,,at least one longitudinal side edge porlionfof said strip slidably engaging an inside.surface ofoneof,saidltopnnd bottom walls' to prevent stickingfcontact between said -sur-' face and'the edges of said bacon slices, therebyfacilitatprising; a, single coiled strip of 'flexible '5 material having.

5 6' ing rotation of said roll within said container as said 2,509,450 Reed et a1 May 30, 1950 sirip is unwound. 2,665,993 Swanson J an. 12, 1954 2,771,214 Lefebvre Nov. 20, 1956 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,826,296 Mullinix Mar. 11, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,830,910 Swanson Apr. 15, 1958 1,327,354 Cooper Oct. 13, 1931 OTHER REFERENCES 2,465,876 Hornung Mar- 29, 19 9 Food Industries, January 1951, pages 44 to 46 and 194. 

1. A BACON PACKAGE COMPRISING A CONTAINER HAVING RECTANGULAR TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS AND HAVING AN OPENING IN A SIDE WALL THEREOF, SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY SMOOTH AND FLAT OUTER SURFACES, A SPINDLE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM WALL THEREOF, A ROLL ROTATABLY SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER UPON SAID SPINDLE AND COMPRISING A SINGLE COIL STRIP OF FLEXIBLE GREASE-RESISTANT MATERIAL HAVING BACON SLICES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY IN SPACED RELATION THEREALONG, A TUBE EXTENDING THROUGH THE CENTER OF SAID ROLL AND ROTATABLY RECEIVING SAID SPINDLE, SAID STRIP HAVING A FREE OUTER END EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SIDE WALL OPENING, AND A SIDE WALL FLAP EXTENDING OVER SAID OPENING AND SAID FREE OUTER END OF SAID STRIP AND BEING MOVABLE INTO AN OPEN CONDITION FOR EXPOSING SAID FREE OUTER END AND SAID OPENING, WHEREBY, WHEN SAID FLAP IS OPEN, THE FREE OUTER END OF SAID STRIP MAY BE GRASPED AND PULLED OUTWARDLY TO UNWIND SAID ROLL AND TO WITHDRAW THE BACON SLICES WITHIN THE CONTAINER, SAID SLICES BEING DISPOSED UPON THE OUTERMOST SURFACE OF SAID STRIP UPON WITHDRAWAL OF THE STRIP FROM SAID CONTAINER, SAID SLICES CLINGING ONLY TO THE SURFACE OF SAID STRIP FACING AWAY FROM SAID ROLL AS SAID STRIP IS UNWOUND. 